Bath vs Sale Sharks team news: Arundell returns, Wheeler set for debut and Lawes absent

The Bath vs Sale Sharks team news brings returns for Henry Arundell and Tom de Glanville on Saturday, while replacement prop Claudius Wheeler is in line for his professional debut.

Sale make five changes following their defeat at Newcastle, with Gus Warr, Alex Lozowski and Asher Opoku-Fordjour among those recalled. Courtney Lawes is unavailable through illness.

The Premiership Round 5 match kicks off at 3.05pm GMT on Saturday, 31 October, at the Recreation Ground.

Bath team news: Arundell and de Glanville return

Arundell starts on the left wing, with Joe Cokanasiga on the right and de Glanville at full-back. Captain Ben Spencer partners Finn Russell at half-back, while Max Ojomoh and Ollie Lawrence form the centre pairing.

Josh Bayliss starts at number eight alongside flankers Ted Hill and Miles Reid. Dan Frost is selected at hooker between Beno Obano and Archie Griffin.

Bath’s team announcement confirms Wheeler’s place among the replacements. Tom Dunn and Will Stuart provide the other front-row options on a bench containing six forwards and two backs.

The back-three returns follow significant injury setbacks. In their medical update ahead of Round Five, Bath confirmed that Santi Carreras will miss the remainder of the season with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament. You can read more in our Santiago Carreras injury report.

Guy Pepper’s ankle injury has ruled him out of the Nations Championship, while Dan du Preez remains unavailable. Sam Underhill is expected back in early December.

Sale Sharks team news: Courtney Lawes ill, five changes

Warr returns at scrum-half after missing the Newcastle defeat with a minor calf strain. He partners George Ford, with Lozowski selected alongside Joe Marchant in midfield.

Nathan Jibulu starts at hooker and Opoku-Fordjour at tighthead, while Tom O’Flaherty returns on the wing.

The back row remains unchanged: Christ Tshiunza starts at blindside flanker, Ben Curry at openside and Tom Curry at number eight. Ernst van Rhyn captains the side from the second row.

Sale’s official announcement lists Lawes among those unavailable, alongside Luke James, Bevan Rodd and the suspended Jacques Vermeulen. Xavier Roe has flown home.

Luke Cowan-Dickie and Tomas Francis are among the replacements as Alex Sanderson seeks a response to last weekend’s defeat.

Both sides seek a response in Premiership Round 5

Bath lost 23-5 at Gloucester last time out, while Sale were beaten 17-3 by Newcastle Red Bulls.

Both have won two and lost two of their opening four league fixtures. Bath sit sixth on 11 points, two ahead of seventh-placed Sale, with bonus points separating the sides, according to the Premiership’s official match preview and the league standings.

Bath confirmed team

Starting XV: 15 Tom de Glanville; 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Ollie Lawrence, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Henry Arundell; 10 Finn Russell, 9 Ben Spencer (captain); 1 Beno Obano, 2 Dan Frost, 3 Archie Griffin; 4 Will Jeanes, 5 Charlie Ewels; 6 Ted Hill, 7 Miles Reid, 8 Josh Bayliss.

Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Claudius Wheeler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Enoch Opoku-Gyamfi, 20 Ewan Richards, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Louie Hennessey, 23 Jaco Coetzee.

Sale Sharks confirmed team

Starting XV: 15 Joe Carpenter; 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Alex Lozowski, 11 Tom O’Flaherty; 10 George Ford, 9 Gus Warr; 1 Nicky Smith, 2 Nathan Jibulu, 3 Asher Opoku-Fordjour; 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 5 Ben Bamber; 6 Christ Tshiunza, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Tom Curry.

Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Si McIntyre, 18 Tomas Francis, 19 Tom Burrow, 20 Sam Dugdale, 21 Dom Hanson, 22 Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 23 Elia Canakaivata.

Bath vs Sale Sharks TV channel and kick-off time

The match is live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming through HBO Max, as confirmed in Bath’s official match preview. Kick-off is 3.05pm GMT.

Read our Bath vs Sale Sharks TV guide for the viewing details.

Bath vs Sale Sharks: frequently asked questions

What time is Bath vs Sale Sharks?

Kick-off is at 3.05pm GMT on Saturday, 31 October, at the Recreation Ground.

What TV channel is Bath vs Sale Sharks on?

The match is live on TNT Sports 1, with streaming through HBO Max.

Is Courtney Lawes playing for Sale Sharks?

No. Sale have confirmed Lawes is unavailable through illness.

Is Claudius Wheeler playing for Bath?

Wheeler is named among the replacements at number 17 and is in line for his professional debut.